Device for maintaining a constant level of liquid in a shower stall or bathtub

ABSTRACT

The device is of simple and basic design with unique details, such as the bottom flange and filtering slits at the top. The device is technically simple with a new and innovative application.

CROSS-REFERENCE

SERIAL NUMBER/application Ser. No. 29/676,512

-   -   GROUP ART UNIT NUMBER 2915

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None, N/A

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention from the inventor's personal experience with cold feet,especially when taking a shower and in the winter. Research into theproblem of cold feet led me to learn that this is a common problem amongapproximately 30 percent of the human population. Causes include poorcirculation, anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism and other lesser knowndiseases. The problem also gets worse as the person ages. A conservativeestimate of Americans who suffer from cold feet (and hands) based onknown medical causes is approximately 30 percent (approximately 98million individuals). Applying the same percentage to the worldpopulation yields approximately 2.3 billion individuals.

My education and work experience in science, physics, and engineeringgave me an understanding of energy use, heat dynamics, and waterconsumption. Many people will let a shower run for several minutes toget the shower stall or bathtub comfortably warm. As both shower stallsand bathtubs are designed to let the hot water flow directly down thedrain, it takes longer for a comfortable temperature to be established.Use of this invention makes it possible to be comfortably warm in theshower almost as soon as the water from the showerhead gets hot. Thissaves both water and the fuel it takes to heat the water.

I experimented with the concept of retaining the hot water by simplyblocking the drain with a plastic plate. This proved to work butrequired me to be aware of the water level to prevent it fromoverflowing out onto the bathroom floor. The next stage was to makesimple prototypes from paper and plastic cups and finally to design anactual prototype and build several different models with 3D printing.

Basic product and market research demonstrated that there was no similarproduct available leading to this patent application.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of a cylindrical or cone-shaped piece that sitstemporarily on the shower or bathtub drain to cause a shallow build-upof water which helps warm the shower or tub and aids in keeping feetwarm. It is easily applied before the shower and removed afterwards.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Sheet 1/3

FIG. 1 is an Elevation view of the device. This is a preferred conicalshaped design with eight slots near the top that can serve to filterhair or other material from the liquid being drained through the device.The device is a solid object with a hollow interior. Inasmuch as thedevice is basically round or cone-shaped, it appears the same from left,right, front, and back. This view also indicates the approximatethickness, 1/16″ of the bottom plate of the device.

FIG. 2, the Top View, shows the radial dimensions as well as how theslits at the top converge to create an opening in the very top of thecone.

Sheet 2/3

FIG. 3 is a Functional View with arrows indicating how liquids passthrough the device and into the tub or shower drain. The arrows are forinformational and demonstration purposes only and are NOT part of thedesign.

FIG. 4 is a Bottom View of the device showing the hollow interior.

Sheet 3/3

FIG. 5 is a Perspective View of the device from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of a cylindrical or cone-shaped piece with ahollow interior and an opening at the top. As show in the drawings, thepreferred design also has slits at the top to help filter debris fromthe liquid. The bottom of the device is a circular shaped flange with anopening in the middle . . . like a large fender washer . . . which islarge enough to completely cover the drain plate strainer. Useable andpractical prototype devices have been made on 3D plastic printers andhave performed as planned and designed. Plastic appears to be apreferable material as it is inexpensive, durable, and easily cleaned.Other forms of plastic manufacturing, such as injection molding would beefficient.

The cone-shaped part of the device sits on a round flange of suitablesize to cover the bathtub, sink or shower drain strainer. The devicecovers the sink, shower, or tub drain with a temporary seal whileallowing liquid to enter the device at the top and proceed down thedrain. The height of the cylindrical or cone shape portion of the devicedetermines the liquid level.

In the bathtub or shower, the device can reduce the amount of hot waterused during a shower by retaining water heat that would otherwise goliterally straight down the drain. In addition to saving water, thisalso saves energy costs.

The device is about the size of a small paper cup and can be stored on asoap shelf or placed on the side of a tub. To install, the user simplysets the device on the shower drain by hand, preferably before turningon the water. After the shower, the use can move the device off thedrain by using his or her foot and return the device to wherever it isstored.

Stall type showers generally have a shallow basin at the bottom 2½″ to3″ deep. Inasmuch as tub and shower drains are also standard in theUnited States, the device can be used in homes, hotels, institutions,and other locations. The base flange of the shower unit is 2¾, matchingthe diameter of the drain strainer plate, with a 1½ inch inner openingand the open cone which sits on the base flange is 2⅛″ high.

In the kitchen, the device can mitigate/eliminate a common householdproblem of water overflowing from kitchen sinks and into cabinets, ontofloors, and into lower living spaces or crawl spaces in multi-story andother buildings. In the United States, most local building codes do notrequire kitchen sink overflows and many kitchens have double sinks inwhich the overflow from one sink can flow into the adjacent sink, which,if also plugged, will eventually overflow onto the floor or cabinets.Bathroom sinks are typically outfitted with an overflow port.

The overflow problem/opportunity also exists in institutions such ashealth care facilities, restaurants, bars, laboratories, and other workfacilities.

1. I claim that I have created the design that helps mitigate andalleviate problems of cold feet, especially in the shower, that may bedue to poor circulation, anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism and otherlesser known diseases. I claim that the invention addresses a problemcommon for approximately 30 percent of the human population: Some livein homes and apartments and some live in residential institutionalfacilities such as nursing homes and hospitals. I claim that theinvention reduces the amount of water used for a shower or othertub/basin functions and reduces the amount of energy used to heat water.